CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP PARKS & RECREATION BOARD
11 General Warren Blvd. Suite 1 in Malvern, PA
Thursday, January 19, 2023

Present

Parks and Recreation:
Dan Mount, Chairperson, and Cordelia Kane. Stephanie Robinson was absent.
Visitor:
Dan Walker

Announcements

There were no announcements.

Standing Items

Minutes

Mr. Mount moved to accept the December minutes and Ms. Kane seconded. Mr. Mount called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Trails Reports

Mr. Mount wants to add an item to the Trails Project List. He would like each trailhead to have a Rules & Regulations sign. Ms. Kane will visit the trailheads this month and next month they will begin to put together a proposal for the targeted locations.

Park Reports

There were no updates.

EAC Report

Mr. Mount stated an EAC document was sent to himself and the Board of Supervisors regarding the turf proposal at Charlestown Park. Mr. Walker, a member of the Phoenixville Regional Planning Commission, the Township Planning Commission, and the liaison for the EAC to the Park and Recreation Board, explained further about the EAC’s opinion and science behind putting artificial turf on the public field.

Youth Sports Report

All sports are over until spring 2023.

Old Business

Ms. Kane and Ms. Robinson are working on the project list. This month they were prioritizing the items, now they will select the ones that can be quickly done, assign them, and then report back to the P&R in February. Mr. Mount said Mr. Hubbard is also working on the list, especially the items that will require contractors. He will check on his progress.

New Business

Pickering Ice Dam Trail

Mr. Walker stated that the Pickering Ice Dam Trail has been mentioned at the PRPC meetings in respect to connecting with the Rails-To-Trails project. Therefore, connecting the Ice Dam Trail to the Rails Project is officially on the radar of the P&R.

Mr. Mount will consult with Mr. Theurkauf and the consultant will help navigate the easements and technicalities of a trail needing to cross a busy state road. Hopefully, as the Rails project arrives in Charlestown, P&R will be ready with a proposal for connecting the trail, crossing Route 29, and navigating obstacles like PennDot approvals, a train trestle, grading and parking. Further discussion focused on the ways and difficulties of performing trail maintenance.

Brightside Farm Gardens

Mr. Buck, the garden coordinator, had the following issues to discuss:

  1. He said they are having a continuous problem with dog waste. Signage is needed.
  2. He noticed dead foliage areas and Mr. Mount said it was RES beginning to eradicate invasives as the first step to creating a better bird habitat at Brightside. The hedges and windbreaks were sprayed and Mr. Buck was concerned about the drift of chemicals. The gardeners are using the gardens with organic expectations. He wants to receive notification of any further activity. Mr. Mount told him the public meeting with RES (date and time yet to be established) will certainly be well publicized in the Township.
  3. Mr. Buck is concerned about the seed load and drift for the gardens when RES begins to naturalize the fields for birds.

Ashlee Beyer Resigns for 2023

Ms. Ashlee Beyer was thanked for her years of service, especially for organizing the volunteer days to rid the trails of invasive weeds. Her knowledge was very helpful. But she has resigned for 2023. The Park and Recreation Board needs new volunteers to fill the open seats on the Board.

Adjournment at 7:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,


Lisa Gardner
Recording Secretary